Revelation 11:6
These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
REVELATION 11:6
Verse 6 attributes miraculous powers to the witnesses: control over heaven’s weather, to withhold rain; authority over waters, turning them to blood; and the ability to strike the earth with plagues as they wish. Such miracles echo the plagues of Egypt (Exodus) and the broader prophetic pattern where God’s messengers bear signs that authenticate their message and reveal divine judgment or mercy. The powers symbolize judgment and judgment-warding authority granted by God to validate their mission and to confront spiritual blindness, oppression, and moral decay. The imagery is deliberately provocative: it shows the seriousness of the prophetic call and the consequences of opposing it.
The verse highlights God’s sovereignty over nature and his right to empower his witnesses in extraordinary ways. It underscores the theme of prophetic authority given by God to reveal truth, confront idols, and call for repentance. The shared power between these witnesses and their mission points to a collaborative divine strategy—multifaceted manifestations of divine judgment and mercy in the course of redemptive history.
Believers today can draw from this the idea that God equips his people with spiritual authority to address injustice, falsehood, and moral decay. Practical steps: cultivate spiritual discernment to test messages against Scripture, seek repentance when needed, and practice courageous advocacy for truth and justice. Recognize that miracles in the biblical sense point to God’s character and purposes, not to personal prestige. Focus on aligning your life and community with God’s will and trusting him in times of testing.
Cross-References: Exodus 7-12; Joel 2:28-32; 2 Corinthians 12:12; Acts 4:29-31